Chloroform use as a laboratory reagent
Chloroform is commonly used as a laboratory reagent for testing the presence of certain functional groups in organic compounds.

Testing presence of certain functional groups
- Chloroform is particularly useful in identifying the presence of alcohols, amines, and phenols in organic compounds.
- When chloroform is added to a solution containing these functional groups, specific chemical reactions occur that result in the formation of distinct color changes or precipitates.
- For example, when chloroform is added to a solution containing an alcohol, the alcohol will undergo oxidation to form a carboxylic acid, resulting in a color change or formation of a precipitate.
- Similarly, chloroform can react with amines to form isocyanides, which can be detected by characteristic color changes.
- Phenols can also be detected using chloroform due to the formation of colored complexes.

Procedure for testing
- To test for the presence of these functional groups using chloroform, a small amount of the organic compound is usually dissolved in a suitable solvent.
- Chloroform is then added to the solution, and any color changes or precipitates that form are observed.
- These observations can help in identifying the specific functional groups present in the organic compound.

Conclusion
In conclusion, chloroform is a valuable laboratory reagent for testing the presence of alcohols, amines, and phenols in organic compounds. Its ability to induce specific chemical reactions that result in detectable changes makes it a useful tool for organic chemists in their analyses.